Tidal Disaster

As we wake up to another day off in North America, news is trickling in of the mounting disaster that has hit South East Asia over the past 48 hours. Triggered by a powerful earthquake near the city of Jakarta in Indonesia, tidal waves have devastated coastal regions in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.

Current estimates suggest a death toll of 26,000 people from across the region. The tsunamis seem to have hit Sri Lanka and India the hardest. The whole Eastern coast of India experienced massive tidal waves that swept everything in their path, from irrigation systems to mud huts. Both nations have never experinced such devstation due to tidal waves, in fact, Sri Lanka's government has issued an international plea stressing that the country has never faced such a crisis. Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Maldives have reported heavy damage to both life and property. Reports are also trickiling in from the Eastern coast of Africa that many areas along the coastline have been affected there too. In fact, Somali officals believes that hundreds of fisherman have drowned due to the continuing after effects of the quake.

In an eerie coincidence, last year's disastrous earthquake in Bam, Iran also occured on December 26th. Killing 26,000 people, it crippled the region as it lost not only its structural foundations, but the bases of its continuing economy. Exactly a year later, a similiar picture is appearing in South East Asia today. Not only has the region suffered massive loss of life, the lasting impact of this incident will probably haunt the region for years. Many of these coastal regions boast lush crops and farms; the saline water that has travelled miles into the coastline, will impede healthy crops for years to come. The region comes to grip with this reality as it takes stock of its dead. Mass graves are being dug even as authorities still look for survivors. The death toll is expected to rise and international relief organisations are asking for immediate assisstance.

Many of the areas affected are rural villages both on the mainland and in small island communites in the Indian Ocean. Poor communication and unreliable information is further compunding a mounting crisis. The Times of India is reporting that Sri Lanka and India are not even part of the natural disaster warning system that has been in place for years - hoping to co-ordinate relief and evacuation efforts. Fears of an impending epidemic in the affected regions has prompted calls for swift relief for the millions that have become homeless. Disease and Starvation remain a threat to the millions of affected survivors.

links:

Countries Affected: At a Glance (BBC)
Thailand loses 700 and royal grandson to Tsunamis (Phuket Gazette)
Death toll rises to 7000 in India (Times of India)
Asia battles Earthquake Aftermath (BBC)
World Scrambles to Help Asia (South China Morning Post)

ps: nihau, marcus? anything to add? You guys are in the region, do tell.
pps: most online Sri Lankan papers are so busy right now that I am having trouble just getting to the homepages.